fictionpage Chapter 1662 Unexpected Changes
Chapter 1662 Unexpected Changes
Chapter 1662 Unexpected Changes
"Why did you leave as soon as I arrived?!"
Zheng hope had just parked his car when he saw Li Xuewu leading the child out of his yard.
He has improved a lot in the past few years. He knows how to say the right thing to the right person, unlike before when he wore his heart on his sleeve.
"Is this Li-Ning?"
Before Li Xuewu could even respond, he chuckled, picked up Li Ning, and bounced him around, saying, "This kid is really good-looking."
"Call him Grandpa." Li Xuewu smiled and looked at his son, instructing him, "This is Grandpa Zheng's son."
"Grandpa~" Li Ning called out, somewhat bewildered.
"very nice--"
Zheng Xicai smiled and glanced at him, then looked at the quiet girl standing there holding her father's hand.
"Your name is Li Shu, right?"
"Hello, Uncle Zheng, I'm Li Shu."
Li Shu is well-mannered. Not to mention learning to speak from Er Ya and Zhao Yaping, she also inherited her mother's personality. With the guidance of her grandmother, grandfather, and grandmother, she has never lost her manners.
"Good, good child, all is well."
Zheng Xicai seemed to genuinely like children, holding Li Ning tightly and refusing to let go, then looked at Li Xuewu and asked, "Where are you going?"
"You're blaming me? Why don't you just say you came back late?"
Li Xuewu laughed and said, "We've been here for quite a while now, and we're just about to go to her grandma's house."
That's just his personality. If someone treats me with respect, I'll treat them with even greater respect. If Zheng Xicai speaks like a human being, he's willing to treat the other person as a human being.
After all, they had a godparent relationship, so even if there were disagreements between them, they wouldn't tear each other apart in front of Wang Shuhua.
If there's any conflict, it's that Li Xuewu made rapid progress over the years, which made Zheng Xicai envious.
Zheng Xicai wasn't competing with Li Xuewu; he was competing with himself, his father, and his mother.
He felt a little uncomfortable, especially since Li Xuewu often came here when he worked in Dongcheng.
Although he was almost thirty years old and had grown children, he was still somewhat petty in his actions.
Whether it was arrogance or resentment, he would cause trouble every time he met Li Xuewu.
The most ruthless time was when his nephew wanted to join the army and asked Li Xuewu for help to get into the Third Regiment.
Given Li Xuewu's influence in the Third Regiment at the time, getting a soldier would have been a piece of cake.
But Li Xuewu refused to agree.
He understood what was going on; his sister Zheng Xiaoyan had caused quite a stir back then, which had greatly benefited Li Xuewu.
Leaving aside the present, just back then, Li Xuewu was quite influential in Dongcheng. If Zheng Xiaoyan were capable, she would have said something straightforward. Why did things turn out like that?
But what happened next was quite unexpected. Once Li Xuewu's inner circle stirred up trouble, most department stores in Beijing removed the radios from the Tianjin Electronics Factory's shelves.
Zheng Xiaoyan's factory leaders deeply regretted their actions and went to great lengths, pulling strings and using numerous connections, to restore the supply.
Zheng Xiaoyan was caught in the middle and got no good treatment. She was complained about by her parents when she got home and by her boss at work.
This led to the siblings finding Li Xuewu disagreeable and saying some very hurtful things.
Li Xuewu didn't bother with them, but he visited less often after his job transfer.
This year, he didn't even come for the Chinese New Year, so how could Zheng Shusen and his wife not be worried?
"Why are we leaving yet? Let's have a drink tonight, you two brothers."
Zheng Xicai smiled and said to his guests, "I bought some groceries. Xiaoyan and her husband will be back tonight, so let's have some fun together."
"You should have said so earlier, it was all booked for tonight."
Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "I'm going back to Gangcheng tomorrow. My family hasn't had a get-together yet since I came back, so let's have one tonight."
He turned to his godmother and asked, "How about we go to my mom's house tonight? We can all get together?"
"Stop it, it's too noisy."
Wang Shuhua was quite pleased to see that the two of them spoke to each other so politely and amicably.
She took Li Ning from Zheng Xicai's arms and said, "Having too many children gives me a headache."
"Grandma's head hurts, let me blow on it for you."
Li Ning, who was being carried into the car by Wang Shuhua, was quite the troublemaker. He hugged Grandma Wang's face and blew on her forehead.
"Oh, it's still my old grandson!"
Wang Shuhua was delighted and gave him a big kiss, praising him with a smile, "Li Ning is such a good boy, Grandma's headache doesn't hurt anymore."
“Then let’s get together again when you come back,” Zheng Xicai said with a smile, shaking hands with Li Xuewu. “Give me a heads-up next time you come back, and I’ll make the arrangements.”
"No problem, you go ahead with your work."
Li Xuewu smiled and agreed. After watching Li Shu get into the car, he said something to his godmother and got into the driver's seat.
Wang Shuhua really liked Li Ning's cuteness; she even teased him as the car drove away.
Zheng Xicai stood beside his mother, watching the car carrying Li Xuewu and his two children drive away.
"The child's face has opened up."
After his mother turned around, he looked up and said this.
Wang Shuhua glanced at her son but said nothing.
I've said everything I needed to say and given all the necessary instructions. If they make the same mistake again, it's not my fault.
She's over thirty and still has to clean up her mother's messes. How can anyone believe that?
"Didn't that child's family ever come looking for him? They're so heartless, tsk tsk—"
Zheng Xicai clicked his tongue and shook his head, saying, "Look at that little face, she doesn't look lucky at all."
"Where do you think she's unlucky?"
Wang Shuhua had just thought that her son's words to Li Xuewu at the door showed some improvement, but she didn't expect that he would be exposed in just three minutes.
"She was pampered and protected by her whole family since she was a child. Even her own parents probably didn't care about her as much as Li Xuewu and Gu Ning did."
With her eyelids drooping, she said, "A child who's not even six years old and already in first grade, whose child is taught so well?"
"Well—of course he cares about his reputation."
Zheng Xicai smiled meaningfully and said, "I've heard that this child brought his own food, Mom."
He deliberately lowered his voice to explain, "The Northern Soviet Foreign Affairs Office sends money to their family every month; it's for the children's support."
"I don't know the exact amount, but it's definitely enough for the child to spend. He's just trying to save face."
"Where did you hear this nonsense from?"
Wang Shuhua frowned and said, "Others may not know about this, but do you think I don't?"
She stood in the yard and reminded her son, "This is the last time you'll say this. Don't spread it around again."
"Also, if your dad hears this, he'll scold you again."
"I know—" Zheng Xicai said nonchalantly, "He's a deputy director now, how could I, a nobody, dare to compete with him? Don't worry."
As her son's ramblings became increasingly nonsensical, Wang Shuhua glared at him and gave up trying to reason with him.
Zheng Xicai curled his lip and sneered inwardly, "Let's see how long you can keep this up."
He still talks about a purely sworn brotherhood relationship. He already knew Li Xuewu was cunning; he's just here to ask for help!
He had heard about the Honggang Group incident. If it weren't for his father's influence, would Li Xuewu have come to become a godfather?
Why is he so skeptical?
-
"The grass on the plain grows lush and green, withering and flourishing each year."
"Wild fire, in spring."
Li Shu sat on a small stool with three bean sprouts in front of her; they were now her students.
Li Yue is still young, but she is already quite sensible. When she plays with her older sisters and brothers, her blank expression is very cute.
Gu Ning took leave from work and didn't go to work in the afternoon. Li Xuewu brought the children out, while she packed her luggage.
Actually, Er Ya could help pack the luggage, but she wanted to pack some summer clothes for Li Xuewu.
She had planned to give Er Ya the day off that evening and bring Zhao Yaping over for dinner, but Zhao Yaping didn't want to come.
It's not that I feel distant or awkward, it's just that I feel having dinner together at night is a waste of time.
As for eating, there's no such thing as not being able to eat anywhere. Staying at home with Er Ya might make eating even more peaceful.
Besides, even if she came along, she wouldn't get to say much; most of the time she would just listen to the adults chatting.
Even when there are topics about her, they are only about her family or studies.
The only time she missed studying this year was because her grandfather passed away, and her brother and sister-in-law, as well as her sister and brother-in-law, all went back home.
People say that a golden phoenix has flown out of the Zhao family, and the whole family is enjoying the good life. Old Zhao left with a smile on his face.
Of course she knew who the "golden phoenix" in the family was referring to; in fact, she also wanted to be a golden phoenix.
Being first in the class is not enough, being first in the grade is not enough either; she even wants to get full marks in every subject.
No one taught her how to study. Except when Gu Ning was at home, Er Ya couldn't help her at all.
With Li Yue by her side and her busy work schedule, Zhao Yafang could only come here once or twice a month at most.
Despite having no tutors and a weak foundation, she still manages to maintain her position as the top student in the entire grade, and no one can surpass her.
Zhao Yaping became the nightmare of those city kids, referred to by teachers as "that so-and-so from Class One" and by parents as "that so-and-so from your grade."
Zhao Yaping didn't want to come, so Gu Ning had to come alone. When she arrived at the compound, Li Xuewu and his two sons had already arrived.
"If you hadn't come soon, I would have come to pick you up." Ji Yuxiu greeted her sister-in-law with a smile as she entered the house, "Come on, come on, we've been waiting for you to make dumplings."
"Hahaha—" Zhao Yafang said with a laugh, "Are you waiting for your second sister-in-law to help you make dumplings, or are you making dumplings and waiting for your second sister-in-law to come and cook them?"
"Look, even my sister-in-law can't stand it anymore."
Ji Yuxiu raised an eyebrow and said, "Among this family, I'm the only one who cares whether you came or not. They didn't even ask you."
"Then I really have to thank you."
Gu Ning knew they were joking, so she walked over and reached out to pinch Ji Yuxiu's waist.
"Hahaha!" Ji Yuxiu was afraid of this move, and dodging with the noodles in her hands, she said, "You repay kindness with enmity, Second Sister-in-law!"
"Pay attention!" Li Shu noticed that her two younger brothers and sister's attention was drawn to their mother and the others, so she coughed like a teacher and called out, "Don't daydream!"
"Did you hear that? Teacher Li said, don't daydream!"
Zhao Yafang glanced at Li Shu with a smile and reminded Ji Yuxiu, "If you keep sneaking off, Teacher Li will get angry."
“Read after me—Spring sleep is so sweet that one doesn’t notice the dawn.”
Hearing her aunt's words, Li Shu looked at her younger siblings even more seriously, truly displaying the demeanor of a teacher.
"Spring sleep is so sweet, I don't even notice the dawn, but mosquitoes bite everywhere," Li Xuecai came out from the inner room and squatted down next to Li Shu to cause trouble. "I get big welts at night, I don't know how many bites I've had."
"Ugh! Uncle, you're so annoying—"
Li Shu was furious; the discipline she had worked so hard to establish had been ruined by her uncle.
"Yeah, you're so annoying!"
Ji Yuxiu brandished a rolling pin, pretending to hit Li Xuecai on the head, and threatened him, "Stay away from our Teacher Li!"
“I can also recite ancient poems,” Li Xuecai said, clinging to his eldest niece and deliberately acting cheekily, “I can recite them better than you.”
"A huge lump appeared in the night! Haha!"
Li Tang and Li Ning imitated the gestures with great enthusiasm, laughing heartily, finding it very fun and enjoyable.
"No! You're reciting it wrong!"
Li Shu hurriedly corrected, "That's not how the teacher taught it! You memorized it wrong!"
"Third brother, if my son takes this to school, you'll see what I do to you!"
Before Ji Yuxiu could say anything more, Zhao Yafang became anxious when she heard her son imitating his uncle.
Li Xuecai was kicked by Ji Yuxiu, and with a wicked grin, he went to chop firewood.
He wasn't afraid of his wife or his sister-in-law, but he caught a glimpse of his father sitting in the inner room, glaring at him.
He dares to poison the future of the Li family; he's really got too big for his britches and has a death wish.
With his older brothers by his side when they were young, he and Li Xue were definitely the best kids in the family, the apple of everyone's eye.
Li Xue goes without saying; she only has one daughter, so it's only natural that she dotes on her.
As the youngest child, he enjoyed countless favors from his parents, especially because he diligently studied traditional Chinese medicine.
But now it seems that all of that is in the past; parents' hearts are now with the next generation.
From Li Shu to the youngest Li Yue, their father, Li Shun, has always wanted to keep them by his side and teach them personally.
If Li Shu said she didn't come to her house for lessons because she was doing homework, Li Shun would take the bus to his second son's house to tutor his granddaughter.
He never had to supervise his children's studies, and they all did very well.
This is especially true for the grandchildren; Li Shu, who started first grade at the age of five, has become a hot topic of conversation on this street.
Whenever you see Li Shun, it's quite easy to start a conversation by mentioning his eldest granddaughter.
The youngest son is not well, but the eldest granddaughter is.
"Look at the dumplings you made," Zhao Yafang teased Li Xue, pointing to the dumplings she had just made on the bamboo mat. "If you go to your in-laws' house, won't they laugh at you?"
Did I laugh at you when you first arrived?
Li Xue rolled her eyes and said, "It's all because Grandma taught you how to make dumplings."
"You're comparing yourself to me?" Zhao Yafang tapped her sister-in-law's forehead with her flour-covered hand and said, "I'd never even seen what dumplings looked like before we got married. I'd love to make some, but why bother?"
"You don't have to embarrass me—"
Li Xue straightened the dumplings she had made and said, "Isn't this pretty good?"
"You'll see when it's cooked; it'll all turn into noodle soup."
Zhao Yafang glanced at Gu Ning and Ji Yuxiu, winked, and asked, "If you want to learn, you'd better hurry up. Your second sister-in-law and your third sister-in-law are both my apprentices. If you learn now, I won't charge you tuition."
She cleared her throat, suppressing a laugh, and said, "If you only want to learn when you're about to get married, I won't teach you!"
"Who's getting married?"
Li Xue glanced at her third sister-in-law, who was about to burst out laughing, and nudged her eldest sister-in-law with her shoulder, saying, "Don't even think about kicking me out."
"Who wants to kick you out—" Ji Yuxiu raised an eyebrow and smiled, "We're just afraid we won't be able to keep you!"
"It's alright, I'll just chain her up." Zhao Yafang smiled, pursing her lips. "Let's see if she'll leave!"
"I hate you two!"
Li Xue blushed and gestured to her second sister-in-law, who hadn't spoken, saying, "Why don't you all learn from your second sister-in-law?"
She deliberately moved closer to Gu Ning and said, "My second sister-in-law is the best. You are all bad people."
"Hey—now we're the bad guys?"
Zhao Yafang raised her chin and said, "When the new son-in-law comes to visit, we'll definitely make things difficult for him!"
"What new son-in-law?" Li Xuewu had been dragged around in the back room by Sha Zhu for a while before he finally entered the room and heard this.
Zhao Yafang glanced at him and gestured in Li Xue's direction, saying, "How can you sleep soundly if your sister can't find a boyfriend?"
“That’s—” Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, “I’ve been suffering from insomnia for so long.”
"Second Brother!" Li Xue said reproachfully, "Can't you learn to be good?"
"Look at you all, you're forcing my sister to get married again!"
Li Xuewu changed his tune quickly, turning to his sister-in-law and Ji Yuxiu and saying, "Li Xue has said she will never marry, why are you all so concerned about this?"
After saying that, he turned to Li Xue and said, "It's okay, I'll take care of you at home. You don't need to get married in this lifetime."
"Oh no—I'm not making any more!"
Li Xue, feeling ashamed and angry, threw down the dumpling wrapper in her hand, turned around and went to the inner room to complain to her mother, "Second brother bullied me."
"You really don't appreciate kindness!"
Li Xuewu walked to the door of the inner room and teased his younger sister, saying, "I'm trying to help you."
"I don't need your help," Li Xue said reproachfully from behind her mother, "You're the one who's never going to get married."
"I will never get married."
Li Xuewu looked at the girl, who was confused by her anger, with amusement and asked, "So, do you want to get married in this lifetime?"
"I'm not telling you! It's annoying!"
Li Xue rolled her eyes at him and said to the old lady who was smiling at her, "Tell me about my second brother, you can scold him."
“I wouldn’t dare say that,” the old lady said with a smile, reaching out to touch her hair. “Your second brother is right.”
"No, he just likes to bully people."
Li Xue curled her lips, glanced at her second brother who had entered the room, and said, "My eldest sister-in-law and third sister-in-law both learned from him."
"See, we've found the bad guy."
While making dumplings in the main room, Zhao Yafang emphasized, "Your third sister-in-law and I are both good people."
"It's not that great—"
Li Xue emphasized through the horse window, "I've raised your child for nothing. If you have another child in the future, no one will help you."
"That's right, we're not having any more children."
Zhao Yafang looked up at her and said, "We'll be waiting to help you when you give birth."
"I just don't know if you need any help."
"I'm not talking to you anymore." Li Xue knew perfectly well that this question was a trap, and no matter how she answered, it would be wrong.
Why didn't your maternal grandfather come?
Sitting at the end of the kang (a heated brick bed), Li Shun asked Li Xuewu, "Isn't he in the back room?"
"Hey there, an old man's here, we're chatting."
Li Xuewu turned around and glanced at his father, explaining, "They said they were looking at auspicious dates or something, but I didn't listen carefully."
"Was it about that old lady who erected the tombstone?"
Liu Yin overheard this and asked, "Should we set it up now?"
"It shouldn't be, it's not that early."
Li Shun shook his head, picked up his teacup, took a sip of warm tea, and said, "Only when everything is complete will a monument be erected."
The meaning of "complete" is that the grave of an older woman cannot be erected first; it must wait until the grave of an older man has passed away before it is erected together.
Because you can't wait until an old man passes away before replacing the tombstone, right? There's no such thing as that.
Therefore, the idea that ancient people would have tombstones erected when they died, whether made of stone or with black characters written on wooden boards, is pure nonsense.
Unless two people die together, there's no way to stand like that.
However, there are exceptions. For example, in public memorial services, a monument is erected for those who sacrificed their lives for the country. This is a matter of honor and fame, and two separate things.
"I don't know, I didn't listen carefully."
Li Xuewu explained, "I was so busy listening to Sha Zhu's nonsense. He said he wanted to start a whole chef training course and kept talking nonsense to me."
"Zhu Zi is going to be a teacher too?"
Liu Yin smiled and said, "What chef doesn't take on apprentices? It seems you have absolute confidence in your skills."
"It's also because the restaurants in the city are simply too busy and don't have enough suitable chefs."
Li Xuewu, sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), explained, "From the second half of this year to next year, our unit will develop hospitality services."
"Are you going to build another guesthouse?"
Zhao Yafang asked curiously, "Is what we have now not enough?"
"It's not that we don't have enough, it's that we don't earn enough," Ji Yuxiu explained with a smile. "Haven't you heard that the Honggang Group's International Hotel is about to be completed? Many people in the city are eagerly anticipating it."
"Second Brother, will the International Hotel be able to break even in three years?"
Ji Yuxiu works in the city, and the government offices are very sensitive about this kind of thing, especially when people are chatting about it.
Li Xuewu chuckled and said, "Don't even mention three years, it might not even break even in five or ten years."
"Huh?" Ji Yuxiu was taken aback and said, "Then isn't that a loss?"
“How could they possibly lose money!” This time, Zhao Yafang understood better than her. “Honggang Group might not even want to break even.”
"What do you mean?" Ji Yuxiu asked, "Aren't you in a hurry to recoup your investment? You're not even willing to make money?"
"It's not that we don't want to make money, it's that we don't want to share it."
Zhao Yafang glanced at her second brother-in-law, who was sitting in the inner room drinking tea, and shook her head slightly, saying, "Making money is what causes trouble."
So you're just a hen that lays eggs!
Ji Yuxiu seemed to understand, and looked at her sister-in-law, asking, "Would those companies that have invested be willing to do so?"
“Why would they be unwilling? The assets are right here, they can’t be moved,” Zhao Yafang explained. “They are not investing in the industry, but in the future of the International Hotel.”
"As long as the future expected returns of international hotels continue to exceed their investment, they will not be bothered."
“If you don’t believe me, go ask Li Xue,” she gestured to her lazy sister-in-law sitting in the inner room, “ask them if the finance department has any plans to distribute money this year.”
Why are you distributing money? Isn't the money going to be used to build skyscrapers?
Can Honggang Group really spit out what it has already swallowed?
Li Xuewu had already prepared a pie in the sky for those shareholders, whether they could actually eat it or not was unknown, but just looking at it made them feel full.
These organizations that invest money can all get a share of the glory of being the tallest building in the country, and that's what's important.
The competition for naming rights to the International Hotel Building was so fierce that it was practically a bloodbath, making it tantamount to a 'non-reliable building'.
-
"Dad, I want to learn how to fly an airplane."
Li Ning had difficulty climbing the gangway due to his short legs, so Qi Yan carried him onto the Red Star No. 1.
After putting Li Ning down, he went down with Ma Baosen to carry the luggage.
The flight attendants were also helping, but the girls couldn't match the strength of these young men.
The driver who brought Li Xuewu didn't leave in a hurry either. The car fleet was Han Jiankun's territory, so how could they not know north and south?
"After packing so much, we'll have to move back at the end of the year."
Li Xuewu looked at the suitcase fixed in one corner of the plane, smiled helplessly, and said to Gu Ning, "Come again at the end of the year and help me move."
"Okay." Gu Ning nodded seriously, seemingly oblivious to his joke.
Li Xuewu, however, already knew what she was thinking and smiled as he looked out the window.
This wasn't Li Shu and Li Ning's first time riding the Red Star 1, so they started playing around in their seats after boarding.
Neither the siblings were dressed very warmly, but Gu Ning had packed some thicker long-sleeved shirts for them in her bag.
"A little over two hours."
Li Xuewu raised his wrist to check the time and said, "You can rest for a while, I'll call you when we get there."
"It's okay, I'm not sleepy." Gu Ning took out a book from her handbag and started reading it in front of him.
She said she came out to relax, but she still couldn't put down her studies. No wonder people say that studying is a kind of inertia.
"You must wear a seatbelt when flying."
Li Shu tried to help her younger brother, but couldn't get the buttons fastened. Zhou Xiaoling put down her luggage, came over, and squatted down to help.
"Thank you, Auntie!"
Li Ning looked up at her and thought the aunt was very beautiful.
Li Shu still remembered her and took the initiative to greet her, saying, "Hello, Aunt Zhou."
"Hello Li Shu, are you going to Steel City with your parents?" Zhou Xiaoling smiled at Li Xuewu and Gu Ning, then asked Li Shu, "Do you have any plans to go anywhere?"
“We’re going hiking!” Li Ning explained, “Dad is taking us to see tigers and lions.”
"That's a zoo!" Li Shu couldn't stand her brother's nonsense any longer and, as if afraid he would embarrass himself, took the initiative to correct him: "There were no tigers or lions on the mountain we went to climb."
"Li Shu really knows a lot."
Zhou Xiaoling smiled and praised Li Shu. When Gu Ning looked up at her, she nodded and greeted her, "Hello, leader. Hello, sister-in-law."
Li Xuewu rarely brought work home, and not many people at his workplace knew Gu Ning, so they didn't have much contact with her.
Those who have contact with Gu Ning generally address her as Dr. Gu or Comrade Gu, and rarely call her Sister-in-law.
Zhou Yao and Wang Lu are naturally related, but Zhou Xiaoling's situation is due to Li Xue's influence.
Even now, the two remain very close. Whenever Zhou Xiaoling is not on duty on weekends, she always invites Li Xue to go shopping or to the city. They are very good friends.
Then there's her relationship with Xiaoxiao. They both work in the same dance troupe and don't have many ulterior motives towards each other.
Despite how close Zhou Xiaoling and Zhou Miaomiao were back then, they now barely keep in touch and only speak when they meet in person.
Xiao Xiao is different; she is the least competitive and most peaceful person in their circle.
Even now, of all the sisters from the dance troupe, only Xiaoxiao remains dedicated to her dance career.
As they grew older, they rarely had the opportunity to perform on stage anymore, so Xiaoxiao switched careers to become a choreographer and teacher.
Another reason that allowed Zhou Xiaoling to get closer to Li Xuewu's family was Xiaoxiao, Li Shu's tutor.
"Hello." Gu Ning nodded slightly and then continued reading her book. She didn't particularly enjoy small talk and socializing.
Li Xuewu was flipping through the newspaper he had received before boarding the plane, saying as he read, "Don't bother giving them food. We'll be there soon, and eating too much will upset their stomachs."
"Just a little bit." Zhou Xiaoling looked at the children. Li Shu and Li Ning were both quiet, but their longing for delicious food was undisguised.
When we boarded the plane, Li Ning asked what we were going to eat, because he had eaten with his mother on the last flight.
It wasn't that the food on the plane was particularly delicious; he just found it interesting to eat while watching the white clouds outside the window.
Zhou Xiaoling couldn't bear to see the two siblings sad, so after asking the secretary-general for help, she saw him nod and smiled at them, winking softly, "Auntie will go find you something to eat."
"Thank you, Auntie!"
Li Shu and Li Ning thanked them in unison.
Li Xuewu looked past the newspaper in his hand and looked at the two of them with amusement.
Li Ning didn't feel embarrassed at all; it was Li Shu who turned her head away shyly when she saw her father's gaze.
Two hours and thirteen minutes later, the plane landed again and came to a smooth stop on the tarmac.
Ma Baosen and Qi Yan, who were sitting in the back row, stood up together and went to the front to prepare their luggage.
"Have you reached an agreement with the publisher yet?"
Gu Ning seemed to have finished reading the book in her hand, then turned to Li Xuewu and asked, "How many copies are you going to print this time?"
“Three thousand more books than last time,” Li Xuewu said with a smile, looking up at her. “More money is coming in.”
Ha—Gu Ning glanced at him with amusement, practically calling him a money-grubber.
Li Xuewu didn't consider himself a money-grubber at all; he earned this money honestly and legitimately.
Last time it was over 4,500, this time it's over 6,700, enough to eat pork for three years.
If he wanted, he could have bought a Nissan Alto car with that money.
"Actually, we should also thank the training base for its contributions."
He explained with a smile, "They heard that I wrote a book about emergency management, and they plan to use it as a textbook."
As Gu Ning listened to his explanation, she felt a pang of jealousy; her own thesis had never received such attention.
Even though I worked harder, he still managed to surpass me.
The family members who most deserve to be associate professors are either the eldest brother and sister-in-law, or she.
Who would have thought that Li Xuewu, who was "uneducated and incompetent," would become the first associate professor?
And so far, he is the only child in the family.
"Secretary-General, you may disembark now."
After Ma Baosen and the others finished moving the luggage, they came to remind Li Xuewu, "The car is ready."
"Okay, coming right away." Li Xuewu put down the newspaper in his hand, got up and put on his jacket.
Gu Ning also got up, packed her bag, and then took Li Shu and Li Ning's hands and walked outside.
Li Xuewu was the last to leave, shaking hands with each of the crew members standing at the gangway entrance to express his gratitude and say goodbye.
Because of his politeness, almost all the leaders in the group now do the same.
We should express our gratitude to the flight crew for sparing our lives.
Ma Baosen had already consulted with Qi Yan beforehand, so the convoy headed straight for Guanshan Road after getting in the car.
Li Shu and her younger brother sat between their parents, gazing out the window at the steel city and talking about the scenery along the way.
When the plane landed, the sun was already blazing red, and by the time the three cars arrived home, it was already dusk.
Li Xuewu got out of the car first, carrying Li Shu and Li Ning in his arms, while Gu Ning got out of the car from the other side.
Qi Yan and the others quickly took suitcases out of the trunk and, led by Ma Baosen, carried them into the yard.
"Just leave it in the living room, I'll take care of the rest myself." Li Xuewu waved his hand and gestured to the drivers, saying, "Thank you for working overtime at the last minute."
Having already received instructions from his superior, Ma Baosen handed the bag to him, while Li Xuewu took out several packs of cigarettes from the bag and distributed them to them.
The cigarettes weren't particularly expensive or high-end; they were just a box of Little Panda cigarettes. What was unusual was who got them from.
Li Xuewu doesn't smoke, but he always has a cigarette in his hand. It's not just a cigarette; it's a stepping stone to understanding social interactions.
He was never stingy, even with his subordinates. A leader would be finished if he didn't even have this much kindness.
"Dad, I'm hungry—"
Li Ning ran around the living room and returned to the entryway, saying with a somewhat aggrieved expression, "I didn't eat enough on the plane."
"Her little mouth hasn't stopped moving, she's still not full."
Gu Ning glanced at him, changed into slippers, and walked into the living room, just as she had when she first came here.
But now that Zhou Yamei and her daughter are gone, she doesn't know where Yu Li, whom she knew, has gone.
"I'm not cooking dinner tonight, we're going to eat at a restaurant."
Li Xuewu glanced at the time on his hand; it was only a little past six o'clock. But children get hungry easily.
"Isn't there any noodles?" Gu Ning asked. "I'll just grab something to eat."
"Tired?" Li Xuewu glanced at her, then turned to Qi Yan, who had stayed behind, and said, "Go to Tongshun Restaurant and get a few dishes. We'll eat when you come back."
"Okay, I'll go right away." Qi Yan had discussed it with Ma Baosen and had also consulted with their superior.
Fearing that the boss would need the car that night, and since Ma Baosen was of little use there, he took another car home.
He lives in the dormitory, so it doesn't matter whether he goes back early or late.
"I want to eat meat, Uncle Qi!"
Li Ning was afraid that Uncle Qi was stingy, so he chased after him to the foyer, pushed open the door, and shouted at the entrance.
Qi Yan smiled, turned around, waved, then closed the courtyard gate, got into the car, and left.
Gu Ning had already explored the entire downstairs area, and even visited Zhou Yamei's study.
Several years have passed, and almost no trace of Zhou Yamei has been left here. His pens, ink, and belongings are still on the bookshelves and desk.
He enjoys reading theoretical and professional books, especially those on engineering, which is evident from the books on his bookshelf.
She didn't go upstairs; even if she did, she wouldn't see Yu Li, so why bother?
However, Li Xuewu took the initiative to go upstairs and carry up the clothes she had brought.
These are all clothes that Li Xuewu will wear in the summer and autumn, so he won't have to run back and forth.
"Shall I take a shower first?" Li Xuewu came downstairs, went to the bathroom to test the stove, and found that it was hot.
Yu Li knew Gu Ning was coming, so she made an excuse to go to Yingcheng and wasn't home.
In fact, Gu Ning didn't think anything of it. She saw through things but didn't say anything, because saying it was meaningless.
If Li Xuewu were truly after love, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to keep a mistress here.
To put it bluntly, it's nothing more than a mix of complex emotions and the necessities of life. If Yu Lizhen could break free from her dependence on him, and be free from worries about food and clothing, with a hundred men chasing after her shamelessly, do you think she would still care so much about Li Xuewu?
Human nature cannot be analyzed too thoroughly, otherwise it would be inhuman.
"I want to sleep in this big room!"
Li Shu and Li Ning followed their father upstairs and opened the door to choose their rooms.
Li Ning was a step too late; he wanted to choose the smaller one but was unwilling to give up.
Li Xuewu finished preparing the hot water, carried his luggage back upstairs, and said to the siblings, "Who wants to sleep with Mom and Dad?"
"Me!" Li Shu and her brother raised their hands together, but both gave up on the large room they had just wanted to fight for.
"Alright, given your excellent performance today, I've decided to open up two spots."
Li Xuewu smiled and nodded at the siblings, saying, "You are both allowed to sleep with Mom and Dad."
"Yay!" the siblings cheered in unison, as if they had won the lottery.
After her father came to work in the steel city, Li Shu started sleeping in a separate room from her mother.
When her younger brother was little, he lived with their mother, but later he moved out and lived with her, so she no longer felt lonely.
But Li Xuewu was worried that the siblings wouldn't adapt well to the new environment, especially at night, so he decided to sleep with them.
Gu Ning took a shower in the downstairs bathroom, washing away all her fatigue and worries.
She came out, gathering her hair, and asked the three men coming downstairs, "Which of you is going to take a shower?"
"I took a shower with my dad—"
Li Ning held her father's hand, glanced at him, and then said to her older sister, "Then you can wash first, sister."
"Okay," Li Shu simply replied, then took the clothes her mother had given her and went to the bathroom.
"What kind of meeting did you have this morning?" Gu Ning asked Li Xuewu, wiping the water from her hair with a towel. "Are you busy?"
“It’s normal to be busy. I’m always busy when I come to Liaodong.” Li Xuewu smiled and explained, “The group has approved the application to establish the Northeast Branch. I have to come back to do preparatory work and complete the establishment and operation of the organizational structure on time.”
"Really? The Northeast branch?"
Gu Ning asked with some surprise, "Your company has already expanded to the point of operating in several provinces in Northeast China?"
"Heh, a strategic definition."
Li Xuewu smiled and explained, "Its full name is Northeast Industrial Development Corporation of Hongxing Steel Group."
"Here, it can also be simply referred to as Red Star Northeast Industrial Company, which is responsible for the overall planning of all industrial projects and businesses of the group in Northeast China."
He patted his son's bottom, signaling him to go play in the study, while he sat on the sofa and explained to Gu Ning, "Director Li from the group has already spoken with me, and it will be no later than the end of the year."
"So I only have about half a year left to plan and build the Northeast Company."
"We won't bother you, will we?"
Gu Ning frowned slightly and said, "I thought you could rest for a few days."
"I'm in charge here. Want to rest? That's easy enough."
Li Xuewu chuckled and patted the sofa, gesturing for her to sit down and talk. "I'll have a meeting at work tomorrow morning, and I'll take you guys out for fun in the afternoon."
"From now on, every day will be like this: I'll work half a day, spend the other half with you, and on weekends we'll go hiking."
"If I have a lot of work, it's fine if I don't have to go out."
Gu Ning thought for a moment and said, "Actually, staying at home is quite nice too."
"Then it would have been a waste of time to come out here."
Li Xuewu pointed to Li Ning, who was eavesdropping in the study, and said with a smile, "My son and daughter are probably going to be disappointed."
Gu Ning glanced at the study doorway, nodded slightly, and said, "I'll follow your arrangements."
Li Xuewu's dinner was interrupted by a phone call from Fengcheng. Xiao Zihong reminded him that there were changes in the group club.
Li Xuewu frowned as he listened. It turned out to be an article in an internal reference that defined this line of thinking as a tendency toward degeneration.